wheeler



(Model.) A 5 sheetssheen 1. G. WHEELER, Jr.

GRAIN BINDER POR HARVESTERS.

No. 321,467. Patented July '7, 1885..

(Mode.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. WHEELER, Jr.

GRAIN BINDER FOR HARVESTERS.

No. 321,467. Patented July 7, 1885.

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(Model.) 5 Sheets-#Sheen 3,

C. WHEELER, Jr.

GRAIN BNDER POR HARVESTERS.

No. 321,467. Patented July 7, 1885 (Model.) 5 sheetsheet 4.

C. WHEELER, Jr.

GRAIN BINDER EOE HARVESTERS. No. 321,467. Patented July '7, 1885.,

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(Model.) 5 SheetswS'heet 5. O. WHEELER. Jr. GRAIN BINDER FUR HARVESTERS.

Patented July '7, 1885.

ANo. 321,457.

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appears applied to a harvester.

fiinrrnio STATES Pn'rnnrr @ricerca CYRENUS XVHEELER, JR., OF AUBURN,NEWY YORK.

GRAlN-BINDER FOR HARVESTERS.

SPEGTFICATIOIIfoIming part of Letters Patent No. 321,4-6'7, dated July7, 1885.

Application ied January l1, 1881. (Model.)

T0 @ZZ znzont it may concern:

Be it known that I, CYRENUs WHEELER, Jr., of the city of Auburn, in thecounty of Cayuga and State of N ew York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Grain- Binders for Harvesters; and I do herebydeclare that the 'following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same.

ln the description reference will be made to the drawings accompanyingthe same, making part of this speciiication, in which- Figure l is aside view of the hinder as it Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, lookingfrom the front ofthe machine,thecordcarrying arm being up. Fig. 3 is asimilar View, with the cord-carrying arm down. Fig. 4 is a plan or topView of a portion oi' the knottercarrying arm, the cam-frame, and partsof the compressing devices. Fig. 5 is an end view of the saine parts.Fig. 6 is a top or plan View of the grain-receiving platform, and themechanism for operating the bundle-arrester in connection with theknetter-carrying arm, the platform being broken away to show the same.

The same letters, where they appear in the several figures, indicatelike parts of the machine.

My improvements are applicable to that class of machines in which thebinder-arm vibrates vertically and swings horizontally, sweeping thegrain to be bound outward across the binding-table, and returning abovethe accumulating grain.

The baud-securing mechanism is carried on an arm swinging in unison withthe horizontal vibration oi the binder-arm, and is operated by camsbeneath the binding-table.

As the machine here shown is in many of its features identical in everyrespect with that shown and described in Patent No. 266, 001, granted tome October 17, 1882, only so much of it will be described as may befound necessary to a clear understanding of the devices embraced in thisapplication.

The nature of this invention consists in oombining with a horizontally-xnoving knetterarm and a vertically-oscillating andhorizontally-vhratinghinder-arm, a laterally-proj ectiug rigid arm and ahinged compressing arm connected by aspring to give the hinged arm anoutward deflection, a yielding and adjustable compressing-strap orflexible connection between the hinged compressing arm and binder-arm,compressing-strap, automatic letoff devices for releasing the tension ofthe coinpressing-strap at the proper time and automatically taking u pthe slack in the same, and means by which the let-oil devices can be setto let off at different points in the outward movement of the bindingmechanism, also, in a shield-plate having projecting fingers, andsecured to the lznotter-carrying arm; also, in a compressor-arm pivotedto the knetter-carrying arm below the grain receiving and bindingplatform; also, in a rod, a lever, a roller, and a fixed camway foroperating said coinpressing-arm, and av spring to make thecompressor-arm yielding; also, in devices i'or preventing the return oithe bundle in the backward movement of the binding devices; also, in aswinging lever and pivoted switch below the platform, and a roller onthe knetter-arm for working the bundle-arrester.

In carrying out the invention an arm, A5, is iirinljr fastened to thebinder-arm C, so as to project laterally from it. It is forked at thatend which is connected to the arm C, so as to give it rmness, and iscurved downward at its projecting end. To this arm is hinged, at itsouter end, a compressing-arm, B5. This arm has an enlarged openingthrough it at C, in which is pivoted a roller, D5. The arm B5 has anextension-piece, E, carried beyond the hinged point, and to this isconnected one end of a spiral spring, the other end oi thespring beingconnected to an ear-piece,G", on the rigid arm A5. This spring serves tokeep the arm B5 extended outward, as shown in Figs. l and 2, when nototherwise restrained. An ear, H5, projects from the outside of thecompressingarm B5, in which is a hole nearly parallel to the arm, and inwhich is inserted a rod, I5, so as to slide freely, On the upper end ofthe rod is cut a screw-thread which has a thumbnut, J5, for lengtheningor shortening the distance between the nut and ear in which it slides,to give greater or less tension, as desired, to the spring c, whichsurrounds said rod and bears against said nut and ear. To the lower endof this rod is connected a buckle, K5, or other convenient device, forconnecting the compressing-strap L5 and adjusting its length atpleasure. Thisstrap extends from the IOO buckle down through the openingC5 and under the roller D5 in the arm B5, and across to the binder-armC, passing under a roller, M5, attached vto the needle B, and isfastened at its end to a bell-crank lever, N5, which is pivoted at O5 tothe cord-carrying arm G.

To the upwardly-projecting arm of the bellcrank lever, at P5, is pivotedthe link-rod Q5. At b5, on the extension-piece X of the pitman B', is aprojecting pin, on which a notch, a5, in the link-rod Q5 drops, andwhich serves to hold said rod until released, as will hereinafter beexplained. A guide-piece, c5, attached to the rod Q5 on the outer sideof the piece X, serves to keep said rod Q5 in proper position to droponto the pin with certainty. This link-rod extends beyond the point ofconnection of the guide c5, and has a series of holes, d5, for insertingthe hook-end of the link e5, the other end of which link hooks into oneof a series of holes, f5, in the bell-crank `r/5,which is pivoted at h5to a fixed ear on the foot of the stand which supports the verticalrockshaft T. The pivot-pin e5 of the arm Z is made to project from thejaws of the vertical rockshaft far enough to strike thedownwardly-projecting arm i5 of the bell-crank g5.

The shield-plate S has ngersf, projecting outward above the plane of thecutters,which serve to hold the grain up against the force of thecompressing devices and bring the bundle, when formed, into a morecompact state, as will be hereinafterexplained.

An earpiece, h5, is bolted, or otherwise fastened, to theknotter-carrying arm A, or knotter-stand Z. To this ear-piece ispivoted, at Z5, a lever or compressing-arm, R5. This arm projectsoutward when down and at rest. lt

also has a short branch, m5, standing at a little less than right anglesthereto, the arm and its branch both projecting from the pivot. Thisbranch m5 has a hole through it for the end of the rod a5 to play freelyin. This rod is rounded for a portion of its length, and hasa coiledspring, o5, placed on it between the branch m5 and its shoulder p5. Apin passing through the end of the rod h5, above the arm m5, holds thesame in place. The lower end of the rod a5 is pivoted to one end ofashort lever, g5 at 15, the other end of which lever is pivoted to theear-piece k5at S5. y On the side of the lever g5, opposite the rod a5,is a friction-roller, t5. Upon a fixed camway or rail, S5, supported bythe cani-frame R, to which it is attached, the roller t5 travels Y inthe movement back and forth of the yknotter-carrying arm A. This camwayis arranged parallel to the path in which the knotter-arm moves, exceptat its outer end, which is bent down nearly at right angles, in order togive the arm R5, which receives its upward and downward motions from thecamway throughthe lever g5 and rod h5, a quick elevation and depression.This camwayor rail S5 may be cast in one piece with the cam-frame R, ifpreferred, instead of being bolted to it, as here shown. The arm R5 isbent backward from itspivotpoint, so that when elevated it will standbetwcenthe fin gers In order to provide against the return of the boundbundle in the return movement of the binding mechanism, which in tangledproper working of the compressing-arm B5, a bundle arresting mechanismis provided, which consists of an arm, T5, pivoted by a bolt, a5, tolugs on the upper surface of the grainplatform G at its forward outercorner. This arm T5is forked at its pivot end to give it abroad bearing.One of these forks or branches extends beyond the pivot ic5,and has ahole in it at v5 for connecting a link-rod, U5, the other end of whichrod is connected to the ear w5on the swinging lever V5,arranged belowthe platform G and pivoted at B5. To this lever V5 is connected, by avertical pivot, x5, a switch, \V5, and to the lower end ofthe pivot x5is fastened a short arm, z5, to which one end of a coiled spring, 'Lz/5,is fastened, the other end of said spring being fastened to anear-piece, X5, on the swinging lever V5. Another spring, Y5, has one ofits ends connected to the same ear, and its other end to the under sideofthe platform. An arm, Z5, is fastened to the knotter-carrying arm, andto the under side of its projecting end is pivoted a roller, a5. Theswinging lever V5 is supported at its outer end by a guide-piece, A5,which serves to hold 'it up in working position. The bundle-arrestingarm T5 is inclined upward and backward, and extends, to a point nearlyover the edge of the slot or opening through the platform G. lt is b'entso as to stand with its end` vertical, and when down its pointed endrests in a socket, b5, formed in the platform G.

Having described the construction of these several improvements and themode of application to the machine, I will now describe their operation.The cord for binding is shown wound on a spool and supported on an arminstead of being taken from the ball carried in a box. In other respectsthe ap- I plication of the cord to thevsheaves and needle-arm andknotting devices is the same as in my said patent. As the needle B and ibinder-arm C descends to encircle the gavel with the cord the notch a5,in the link-rod Q5, locks onto the pin b5, in the extensionpiece X ofthe pitman B', and takes up the slack of the compressing-strap L5,attached to the bellcrankN5. As the arm continues to descend grain it isliable to do, and thus obstruct the IOO IIO

the strap L5 presses on the gavel and brings by the projecting pivot-pine, carried by the vertical rock-shaft T. The longnarm of the crank isthus thrown upward, and through the connectinglink e5 the rod Q5 israised and released from the pin b5, and the bell-crank N5 is free toswing on its pivot O5, thus slackening the compressing-strap L5.V Thearm B5, being freed from the restraint ofthe connecting-strap L5, is, bythe act-ion of its spring F5, swung outward, and the bundle, beingreleased from pressure, is free to expand. This let-oft' motion isautomat-ic, and can be set to let oft' and permit the bundle to expandat different points of the movement of the binder mechanism by changingthe ends of the rod c5 to the differentholes d5 in link-rod Q5 and holesf5 in the bell-crank g5, the outer holes causing it to let off earlier,the inner holes later. As the bundle is still farther moved outward theroller t5 passes off of its camway S5 and the arm R5 drops down to allowthe discharge of the bundle over it, as seen in Fig. 2.

The bundle'arresting arm T5 in the movement of the knottercarrying armoutward is elevated, as seen in Fig. 3, by the roller c on the armZ5,passing along the outer side of the swinging lever V5, (see Figs. 3and 6,) and is held in an elevated position until the completed bundleis carried by theV needle and binderV arm beyond its point when theroller passes offof the outer end of the lever V5 and the arm T5 dropsby its own gravity,aided by the spring Y5, and holds the bundle C, asshown in Fig. 2. This holding of the bundle is important, as in usingthe machine in badly-tangled grain, the separation ofthe bound bundlefrom the grain remaining and accumulating on the table would otherwisebe i1nperfect, the straws in the new gavel being but partially separatedfrom the bundle during the movement of the knotter-arrn and binder armback with the cord extended between the two, which carries back thegrain and brings itinto position forthe compressingarm B5 to embrace thenext bundle. The bundie arrester, in its operation, effectully preventsthe return of the bound bundle, and leaves an unobstructed space for theoperation of the compressing-arm. In the return movement of theknetter-carrying arm the roller a5 passes back inside of the swinginglever V5, shown in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 6. In this .returnmovement of the roller it presses back the pivoted switch W5, and whenit passes off of its free end the spring g5, by its action on the switchthrough lthe arm z5,to which it is attached, throws the switch in again,so that in the return movement the roller a must pass along the outerside of the switch to the outer side of the lever V5, which it will drawinward, thus raising the bundle arresting arm T5, -this arm beingbrought to its full height soon after the roller passes from the switchto the lever. The lever is of the proper curve to hold the arm T5elevated until the bundle is delivered beyond the point of the same.

The different posit-ions of the knotter-carrying arm and the devices foractuating the bundle-arrester are shown in full lines and in dottedlines in Fig. 6.

Thebundlearrester may be materially modied in its construction andapplication without changing the nature ot' the invention. I have usedit for the same purpose applied below the platform,the point beingautomatically projected up through the platform at the proper time, andfar enough to efectually hold the bundle, as shown in my application,No. 44,784, filed October 29, 1881.

The pivoted compressingarm R5 also forms an important feature inconjunction with the compressing devices carried on the binderarm, aswell as with the cord itself. This arm R5 isbrought into its elevatedposition on the return movement of the swinging binding mechanism at theearliest moment it can be done without seriously interfering with thebound bundle, which is as soon as the end of the arm R5 has passed thecenter of the bundle. (See Fig. 2.) By thus early elevating it, itmaterially aids in relieving the cord from the strain that inbadlytangled grain would be thrown upon it, thus permitting the use ofcord of barely sufficient strength to hold safely the bundle when bound,but not strong enough to withstand the strain of returning against theaccumulating gavel when the separation in tangled grain is imperfect.This arm R5, by means of the coiled spring o5 on the rod a5, will yieldto the varying size of the bundles. This arm R5, in its application, mayalso be varied, and I have done so in different ways, as by attaching itto a long pivot or shaft and extending the same backward far enough tobe operated by a roller and track on the can1- frame, as shown in mysaid application, No. 44,784. n

As the shield-plate S is elevated above the plane of thebinding-platform, for the purpose of relieving the platform from thepressure and friction of the bundle when being bound, the fingers g5,connected with the shield, serve the important purpose of holding thebundle up under the severe pressure brought upon it. Vithout suchfingers a portion of the straw forming the bundle would be pressed downin front of the shield-plate S, and the bundle, when completed, would beimperfect in form, taking more length of cord to encircle it, and whenreleased and assuming a more rounded form would not be so snugly bound.

By the use of the compressingarm B5 and compressing-strap L5 and theirconnecting devices, a movement very similar to that of the human arm isattained, giving the machine a wide range of capacity for bindingproperly bundles varying in their diameters from six inches to fourteeninches without perceptible difference in their eompactness, and withsomewhat diminished compactness bundles from six inches down to one inchin diameter. The

coiled spring c on the rod l5, which connects with the strap L5, permitsthe latter to yield IOO - rily.

to the varying sizeof the bundles, and, by means of the buckle K5 andnut J9, it may be adjusted to give any desired pressure to any size ofbundle.' These compressing devices are shown in connection with thelet-oli' motion; but this can be dispensed with and stillthe compressingdevices 'would work very satisfactol have used machines with the strapattached to the ear that lcarries the roller Mi", which ear is attachedto the needle-arm B, instead of attaching it to the bell-crank N5.

The machine will also perform very satisfactory work without the arm R,but astronger cord will be required than is necessary when it is used.In practical tests, made with a full-sized machine, constructed as shownand described, it is found that cord that will break with a strain ofsixty-tive pounds and averaging seven hundred and twenty-five feet inlength to the pound, will produce satisfac-` tory work, and that withthe same cord in the same machine, with bundle arresting and compressingdevices removed, and with all the tension it will bear applied to thecord, it will require from iifteen to twenty per cent. more cord to bindthe same amount of grain in a less satisfactory manner. In practice,thebundle C remains in the osition shownin Fior.

2, until the succeeding bundle is brought forward, when the arm B5 isbrought against it and pushes it from the platform. The compressingdevices and the bundle-arresting mechanism are applicable to othermachines oi' different construction, and parts ofthe same may beappliedto work ei'ectually without embracing the whole. n

Having thus fully described the improvements embraced in thisapplication,` what I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

l. The compressing devices carried on the binder-arm, in combinationwith the horizontally-oscillating knetter-arm and the shieldplate havingprojecting fingers, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the binder-arm,

' the laterally projecting compressing-arm conpresser-arm, the automaticlet-off, and means by which the latter is operated to automatically takeup the slack of the compressingstrap, substantially as described.

4. In' combination with the compressingstrap connect-ing the hingedcompressor-arm and fixed cam for operating the same, substantially asdescribed.

7. In combination with the compressor-arm pivoted tothe knetter-carryingarm below the grain-receiving platform,and means for operating it, asdescribed, the knetter shield-plate having projecting fingers arrangedabove the plane of the grain-receiving platform, substantiallyv as andfor the purpose described.

8. The vertically-oscillating and horizontally-swinging binder-arm, thelaterally-projecting rigid arm, the compressing-arm hinged thereto, thecompressing-strap connecting the binder-arm and compressing-arm, thecompressor-arm pivoted to the knetter-carrying arm below the platform,the fixed camway,

and connecting devices for operating the same,

the whole arranged and combined for joint operation substantially asdescribed.

9. The combination of the compressor-arm pivoted to the knetter-carryingarm, the rod connecting it with its operating-lever, and the spring,substantially as and i'or the purposes stated.

10. The bundle-arresting arm, in combination with thehorizontally-oscillatingknettercarrying arm, the compressor-arm pivotedthereto, and the vertically-oscillating and horizontally-swingingbinder-arm, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

1l. The grain-receiving platform, the bun- IOO dle-arresting arm hingedto it, the horizontally-swinging lever arranged below Vthe platform, thelink connecting said arm and lever, and the roller carried by theknotter-arm, arranged and combined for joint operation as shown anddescribed. 12. The combination of the grain-receiving platform, thebundle-arresting arm hinged to it, the horizontally-swinging lever belowit, the link connecting said arm and lever, the roller carried by theknetter-arm, and the vertically-pivoted switch swinging lever,substantially as described and shown.

' C. WHEELER, JR. Vitnesses.

FRANK R. Rari-IRUN,

WM. A. BAKER.

IIO

carried on thev

